β-Catenin is a key component that connects transmembrane cadherin with the actin
cytoskeleton at the cell-cell interface. However, the role of the β-catenin/cadherin interaction
in smooth muscle has not been well characterized. Here stimulation with acetylcholine
promoted the recruitment of β-catenin to N-cadherin in smooth muscle cells/tissues.
Knockdown of β-catenin by lentivirus-mediated shRNA attenuated smooth muscle
contraction. Nevertheless, myosin light chain phosphorylation at Ser-19 and actin …